Frustrated motorists have slammed the installation of speed cushions along one of the main routes into and out of Hinckley.

The rubber humps have been put along the length of Hollycroft, from the top of the hill down to the Morrisons supermarket.

Facebook page Spotted Hinckley was awash with comments about the measures which are significantly slowing traffic.

One person posted: “Wouldn’t the taxpayers money be better spent on filling pot holes, cutting the grass verges and putting the streetlights back on in the winter?”

Another wrote: “The problem is with the rubber speed humps you have to slow down to 15-20mph other cars are going to be getting broken. The road is 30mph so the bumps should also be safe to be driven over at that speed. Hope some councillors cars get smashed up over the humps.”

While most of the comments were negative there was some positive reaction with a number of people saying at least they could cross the road safely now and remarking “who cares if it stops morons speeding so much.”

Peter Wright from the Hollycroft estate contacted The Hinckley Times in a tongue-in-cheek riposte under the nom de plume Humpfry Rhodes.

He said: “We have seen yet another load of humps installed around the Hollycroft area to slow the traffic down. Between my house and the local supermarket there are 12 ups and 12 downs that I have to endure, which is on average one bump every 40 yards. Now I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life but all this humping is not doing my back any good.

“I will be joining the speed freaks in finding other bump free routes and I look forward to more humps being installed on these alternative roads as the traffic increases on them.

“I think these so called road improvements are a bit over the top and not improving my quality of life but on the other hand it may be me that needs calming down as well as the traffic.”

The cushions were introduced by Leicestershire County Council as part of their long-term, £4 million transport improvement scheme which also includes bus stop upgrades, creation of shared footways and cycleways, extending parking restrictions, improving crossings and relocating signs to reduce street clutter.

Last year during a period of public consultation Councillor Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We recognised that improvements can be made to improve congestion and traffic flow in Hinckley and make access easier for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

“This should in turn help boost the town centre, encourage further economic investment and make it easier for people to cycle, walk and use public transport.”

Lib Dem Clarendon ward borough councillor David Bill said he understood people’s frustrations. He said: “I know it is controversial but the logic behind it is as a follow-on to the cycle lane and footway improvements to slow the traffic down and make the road safer for bicycle users and pedestrians.

“I think the situation needs to be monitored however because in the past there have been problems with speed cushions and the stability of the ground.

“About 10 years ago speed humps were put down on Outlands Drive and it was found because of the ground conditions the vibrations caused from the impact of cars hitting the humps started to affect the foundations of nearby houses. Personally I’m very wary on any type of speed cushions being put on roads in Hinckley.”

Martin O’Connor from engineering design at Leicestershire County Council said consultation had taken place between December 2013 and the summer of 2014 as part of the general Zone 1 improvements phase. He said people who responded with concerns were then contacted.

He added: “The idea is to get the speed of traffic down to encourage more people to use the road for cycling. With traffic calming you are always going to have people who want more of it and those who don’t like it.”